Last Sunday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized 25 bags of methamphetamine hidden in frozen fish ice chests, according to a statement released Wednesday.
CBP officers from the San Diego Field Office discovered a package of illegal drugs during a secondary search of a vehicle in which a 34-year-old man was attempting to enter the United States through the Calexico West Port of Entry at approximately 8:39 p.m.according to statement.
“CBP personnel utilized the port’s imaging system to inspect the vehicle and observed an abnormality in the ice chest located in the trunk of the vehicle,” a CBP statement said. “A CBP K-9 team responded and alerted to the presence of narcotics.”
Upon testing, the packages, totaling 47.13 pounds, were found to contain methamphetamine, the statement said.
CBP officers reportedly turned the suspect over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation and also seized drugs and a vehicle. (Related: CBP agents seize more than $9 million worth of drugs in one weekend)
Nearly 50 pounds of meth found in ice chest filled with dead fish at U.S. border crossing https://t.co/VxR8xhZvqX
— 6abc Action News (@6abc) April 18, 2024
“Drug traffickers will do whatever they can to defraud our officials,” Calexico Regional Port Director Roque Casa said in a statement. “I am proud that our highly trained police officers work hard every day to combat the dangerous drugs that have taken so many lives.”
According to the statement, the seizure is part of Operation Apollo, a “comprehensive counter-fentanyl operation that began in Southern California on October 26, 2023,” and leverages intelligence gathering and multi-level partnerships to cross borders. They say they are fighting against fentanyl smuggling.
CBP did not identify the suspect in a statement.
